The Cristayes ridges

Between marlstone and forests, a hike to the south of Gap.

Details

222851
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.70 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 576 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 568 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 955 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 657 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access : To the south of Gap in the direction of Barcellonnette, via the departmental road 90 B. 5km after exiting the city at point 658, on the right is a car park of a dozen spaces in which you can park.

(S/E) Take the bridge across the river and follow the road which becomes a track, until you find two barriers.
Push the right-hand barrier to continue and reach the intersection of spot height 713.

(1) Continue opposite on a gentle climb, fully south, to join a well-marked trail. Follow it south to an intersection 900m further on.

(2) Turn right to reach the Crêtes de Cristayes (sport height 909).

(3). Turn left to reach the highest point of the hike 900m further south. Continue along the ridge descending southwest to join the GR653D.

(4) Follow the GR left for about 900m before you find an intersection.

(5) Turn right in the direction of Tallard and Chateauvieux, southwest, through marlstone and rocks to join a tarmac road.

(6) Leave this, turning right in the direction of Chateauvieux, on a well marked trail through the marlstone.
Arrive close to a kennel, cross the village of Chateauvieux until the chapel and turn right. After 250m find a trail on the left.

(7) Leave the tarmac road, follow the trail and rejoin the road further on in Bel-Air. Follow this for about 300m where you'll come to a new crossroads.

(8) Turn left on a track that leads to the GR you took earlier.

(9) Cross it and take the forest track opposite which leads you for 120m on a gentle slope to the intersection of ridges.

(3) Go slightly left (north) on a trail that's easy at the beginning, but which then becomes more slippery and very steep. Reach an intersection at an altitude of 800m.

(10) Turn left and then right to join a track that leads to point (1) and then the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 658 m - Car park near the - Luye (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.73 - alt. 719 m - Leaving the track
  3. 2 : km 2.05 - alt. 781 m - Crossroads, turn right
  4. 3 : km 3.01 - alt. 901 m - Arrival on the ridges
  5. 4 : km 4.37 - alt. 893 m - GR turn left
  6. 5 : km 5.22 - alt. 839 m - Turn right
  7. 6 : km 7.37 - alt. 749 m - Management: Chateauvieux
  8. 7 : km 9.72 - alt. 809 m - Leaving the tarmac road
  9. 8 : km 10.98 - alt. 882 m - Leaving the tarmac road
  10. 9 : km 11.36 - alt. 889 m - Take the track opposite
  11. 10 : km 13.25 - alt. 793 m - Left then right, forest track
  12. S/E : km 14.7 - alt. 658 m - Parking near the bridge

Notes

Apart from the GR, the trail doesn't have route markers, but it is always well defined. Drinking water available in the village of Chateauvieux.

Variant: at point (3), reach the starting point on the outward leg by passing point (2) and then(1).

Worth a visit

Marlstone (source Wikipedia): Marlstone is a sedimentary rock, a mixture of limestone and clay in more-or-less equal proportions varying from 35% to 65%. Beyond 65% limestone, it is an argillaceous limestone, while below 35% limestone it is calcareous clay.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
rataplan
rataplan

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

in fact, the paths have been replaced by fields, there are barriers that cannot be crossed and we have made some turns and contours there are probably new routes to get to the cretes

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a.chazal
a.chazal

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely, varied hike, with a lovely view of Tallard castle, crossing the small village of Chateauvieux, beautiful views from the Cristayes ridges (Devoluy, Champsaur, Pic de Bure), the passage through the black marl is magnificent. This walk is best done in winter or autumn, as there is rarely any snow and it can be very hot on the marl.

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Sosophie
Sosophie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I really enjoyed this walk, with its varied landscapes: forest passages, ridges, beautiful views, marl, localities, etc. I just took the wrong path at point 6. I just took a wrong turn at point 6, when you reach the tarmac road at Ville Vieille and have to head for Châteauvieux, you have to follow the yellow signs through the marl (I was on a larger path a little to the right, which took me to the river).

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Jean Marc 1
Jean Marc 1

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely, shady walk with nice views

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brayman
brayman

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Leaving from Chateauvieux (around twenty empty parking spaces at this time of year)
Beautiful sections through the Cristayes forest.
Very gradual and evenly distributed gradients
Portion between 9 and 10 risky in case of rain

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avion1
avion1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Although this hike takes place at a modest altitude, there are a multitude of viewpoints all around.
I came across a salamander, a superb vineyard and even the moon just before Châteauvieux!

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leledederando
leledederando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

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Randochristophe
Randochristophe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A little tip: park* at Chateauvieux to start the hike, where you'll find a fountain and WWC (behind the chapel) that will be much appreciated on the way back.

Picnic idea: above Tallard with a view of the airfield in the "black" lands.

  • The place is still more reassuring for your vehicle than the recommended roadside.

I didn't do the car park/loop part.

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Jorando05
Jorando05

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We took advantage of these fine days at the end of October for a nice little hike near Gap.
The visorando app was a great help, as at times there were several possible directions, with a number of unmarked trailheads.
After point 6, the signposted path takes you to a private road, so you just have to take the path on the left that runs alongside the "forbidden path" .... and then you come across some magnificent dunes of schistose marl, which is really amazing.

The road sections between points 6 and 8 (or rather between Valenty and Bel-air, passing through Chateauvieux) are very quiet and pleasant.

This is a hike to be done in dry weather (the sections can be very slippery in the woods), but beware of the heat in midsummer between point 4 and Chateauvieux.... it must be exhausting.

Many thanks to Nonolerobot.

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The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

Alain de Gap
Alain de Gap

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very pretty spring walk with flowers and snow on the summits in the distance. 360° panoramic view.

Avoid in summer, it must be hot.

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nonolerobot
nonolerobot

On Tuesday, I did the Christayes ridge circuit again.
I've changed the description a bit, so I think I'm a bit clearer.
I'll try to do my best to satisfy as many people as possible.
Best regards and happy hiking to you all.
Nonolerobot.

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Piolit
Piolit

Hello,

Thank you for your replies. Let's just say that the part from 4 to 9 was very easy. The mess was from DA to 3 or 4. Yes, you read the maps but when you get lost you have to know exactly where you are!
We still need to improve our map-reading skills......but not all the trails are marked on the map either!
Thanks again for this

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nonolerobot
nonolerobot

New answer from nonolerobot.
The GR is between points 4 and 5.
On the way back, at point 9 you just cross the GR and take a forest track opposite, which rises gently.
If I have a moment I'll have a look around to see if I can improve the description.

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nonolerobot
nonolerobot

Are we talking about the same hike?
There are no GR trails in the area.
It's good to know how to read a map too, GPS is just a tool.
If I have a bit of time I'll have a look around to see if I can improve the description.
Good hiking to all.
Nonolerobot.

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